Electrically-propelled vehicle.



M. PFATISCHBR. ELEGTRIC'ALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1905.

FJGI.

V f L. i

WITN ESSES:

jfffgw lllllllllllllIhllllllllh PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907. M. PFATISCHER.

BLECTRIOALLY PROPBLLBD VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITN ESSES:

STATES` FFICE.

MATH-ZS hitter'-llISHlR, OF PHlLADELPHlA,-ENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR .TO f RUSSEIQLTHAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, -FENNSYLVANIA ELECTmcALuY-EOPELLED VEHIC-LE. l

no,V 840,866:

`Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

' Apgiicmn and Nambe te, 1905. sain No. 289.557.

To @ZZ whom, lt may concern:

' Be itknown that I, MATnrAs PFATISGHR,

of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania,

have invented vcertain new and useful Imcable to vehicles of the type described in Letn ters Patent-of the United States No. 7 64,020,

granted to .Russell Thayer July 5, 1904. Such a vehicle is provided with electric motors and a storage battery and has wheels constructed and arranged to traverse the rtracks of a railway supply system-with-'said motors 1n' operative connection..- with .said

system and to traversev a trackless `roadbed independently of said system with said motorsin operative connection with said battery.

lldyinvention relates particularly to` the electrical connection and arrangement of the elements carriedby-such a lvehicle.- and .pro-

vides means to permit the contemporaneous y .charging of a-storage battery and operation of a motor byconnection with a railway supplyxsystem when-.the currenton said system Y is .of such voltage kas not to be directly appliy Moreover, my. invention enables thevehicle-mocable to 'charge said storage battery.

tors to operate at. a constant speed by current derived from a fluctuating supply-eik.

cuit. i

l.ln the-form of my invention hereinafter described a storage battery is connected by a controller with a secondary coil lof a transforming device-viz., a motor-generator arranged to take a primary direct current from a railway supply` system at five hundred volts and to generate a secondary direct current at one hundred and twenty-five volts to supply `a storage batteryand four motors,

`the latter being respectively inoperative relation with fcur driving-wheels of the vehicle.' Moreover, the secondary circuit of the motor-generator includes an iron-resistance .niedium, which by reason of its natural increase in resistance in correspondence with any increase in its temperature automatically checks any tendency of the current to suddenly increase.

The arrangement above contemplated, which is hereinafter 'more particularly described, has certain characteristics, as fol?` lows: First, the speed of rotation of the Inotor-,generator tends to varyV in correspondence with variations in the voltage of the supply-circuit; second, the "strength of the field of the generator-coil of the motor-,generator is Aincreased Iby an automatic regula- Itor in the same proportion as vthe speed -diminishes, and vice versa. Consequently the net result attained is substantially constant voltage and current in the secondary circuit,

"provided, of course, the resistance in said circuit reinains substantially constant.

Myinvention comprises the various `novel featuresy of construction and arrangement hereinafter more'denitely specified.

1nthe drawings, Figure I diagrammatic- .ally indicates the relative arrangement of.

the elements carriedby the vehicle and their show-.the relative dimensions of said elements.- Fig. II is a side elevation of a vehicle of the class contemplated and embodying my improvements.

Referring to Fig` I, closes the elementsY which are carried by the vehicle, .2 being the pole whereby connection is conveniently made to the overhead-Wire 3 of the railway supply system, and 4 being a contact-wheel whereby ground. connection. is made, conveniently with the he'dotted line 1 in- .relation lto the railway supply system; but it is tobe understood that it is not intended to tracks 5, which support the vehicle, as herein.-

after described. `The-lead 6 extends from the pole 2 to the terminal, 8 of the 4double-pole switch whose opposite terminal `9is connected b y the lead 10 with the lever 11 of the rheostat 12, which latter-is connected by the lead 14with the ground-contact wheel 4.. .Said lead 6 and the elements `connected therewith, as above described, are only utilized when it is desired to operate the vehicle directly froml the trolley-circuit without the interposition ofthe other circuits inthe vehi` cle, and said terminals 8 and 9 are so arranged as to be then operatively connected with the opposed switch-terminals 16 by the switch-lever 17, as shown i full lines in Fig. I. ,Saidterminals 16 `are respectively connected bythe leads 19 with the controller 20, which comprises the hand-wheel 21, shaft 22, and such other elements in coperative relation therewith as to enable the operator to connect the four'motors 25 in series or par- IOO . are variably connected by the movable con- ,longitudinally on said shaft 51 in accordy changes in the speed of rotation of said arloperatively connectedwith said member 62 and the latter being connected with the lead tact wheel 4 by the lead' 75. Said Solenoidalle] relation and to reverse the same. y Th'el lead 27 extends from said lead 6 to the manl ually-operative switch 28, arranged` to make ,I or break contact with the terminal 29 of the ,i lead 30, which extends to the motor fieldcoil 31 of the motor-generator, c'onnectedby the lead 32 with the groundl contact Wheel A' 4, Said coil 31 is so proportioned and arl ranged as to maintain an approximately constant field by reason of the saturation ofthe l iron included therein. The lead 35 extends from said lead 30 to thegenerator'eld-coil 36 of the motor-generator, which is connected by the lead 37' with the rheostat 38the terminal 39 of the latter being connected l by the lead 40 With the ground-contact Wheel 4. The motor-generator-armature coils 43 and 44are respectively local to said field-coils 31 and 36 and provided with the common shaft 45, which carries the respective commutators 47 and 48 and the beveled gear 49. Said gear 49 is operatively connected With the gear 50 on the governorshaft 51, which has the opposed Weights 54 suspended therefrom by the toggle-levers 55, so as to vary the position of the collar-56 ance with the speed of rotation of the armature-shaft 45. Said collar 56 is in such operative relation with the rheostat-lever 58 as to include more-or less of the rheostat-coils 38 in the circuit in correspondence with the mature-shaft 45.. rlhe lead 6() extends from said lead'3() to the rheostat-coils 61, which tact member 62 with the rheostat-terminal 63, which` is connected'by the Alead v65v with the brush 66 of the commutator 47, Whose opposite brush 67 is connected by the lead 68 with the ground-contact Wheel 4. Said variable contact member 62 is carried by the dash-pot plunger 70 and so arranged that when the circuit is broken by the switch-lever 28 all'of the rheostat-coils 61 are included .in the circuit; but when 'the circuit is established by said switch 28' exclusionof said-,coilsfrom the circuit is automatica'lly effected by the cooperation of the solenoid-core 72 and coil 73, the former being 30 by the lead 74 and with the ground-concore 72 -is in such relation to the switch-lever 77 as to tilt the latter againstthe tension of -the spring 78 as said core risesto its upper position under the magnetic stress of the coil 73. Said lever 77 carries the bridge 79, which is arranged to connect the terminals 80 and 81 of the secondary circuit Wclen said lever is tilted, as above described, but which is disconnected therefrom when the switch 28 is open, as indicated. Said terminal 80 is connected by the lead 82 with vthe brush 83'of lthe commutator 48, Whose opposite brush 84 is connected by the lead 85 'f with the double-pole switch-terminal 87.

cofnnected bythe lever 92 .with the rheostatterminal 93, connected by the lea-d 95 with the double-pole-switch terminal 96. As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. I, said double-poleswitch terminals 87 and 96 may be operatively connected with the controller 20 by` double-switch lever 17 ,when the latter-is removed rom the position indicated-1 in full,Vv 18o'y lines in F ig. I. It is to be understood that said double-pole switch may be so arranged as to be operated bythe controller-shaft 22.

lThe storage battery 10'() is bridged across the said leads85 and 89 in Aconnection with said l controller 20, so as to be energized contemporaneously with the voperation of said motors 25 When the motor-generatoris in circuit,

during which time the strength of thegenerator-iield 36 of the motor-generator is increased in the same proportion as the Ispeed of rotation of thefarmature-shaft 45 is diminished, and vice versa, so that substantially constant voltage and current is maintainedin the secondary circuit extending to said terminals 87 and 96 and. including the controller 20 and storagebatter)T 100. On

the other hand, if the controller 20 is retained in the secondary circuit,.includingsaid terminals-87 and 96, Whenthe connection-With the trolley-supply Wire 3 is broken by openingythe switch 28 the motors 25 may beoperated by current derived solely from said-'battery 10,0. Said motors are convenientlydesigned to operate at approximately one4 hundred and V twenty'volts, so that. they-may be connected in series to be operated 4directly by connection with the overhead supply-Wire 3, carrying a current of approximately five lhundred volts; but when theveln'cle is to bexpropelled solely-by current from the lbattery-10() said,

motors 25 maybe arranged in parallel relation therewith and in either case-the desired connections may be made by manipulation of the controller 20;- l

It is to be understood that the permanent iron resistance 90 serves' to 'check sudden -increase of current, such as occur, forinstance, during the period'of starting.

Variation in the` number of rheostat-coils' 12 included inthe circuit (b movement oi thelever 11) serves to vary t e speed 0l" the vehicle during the operation of the motors Z5V in direct connection with the railway supply system, and similarly variation in the number oi' coils of the rheostat 91 included in the secondary circuit (by -movement of the lever 92) serves to vary the speed ofthe vehicle during the operation of said motors by the battery '100.

Refering to Fig. Il., it is to be understood IOO that said four motors 25 may be respectively disposed in operative relation to the four wheels 102- oi the vehicle, which, as above noted, are constructed. and arranged to traverse the tracks 5 'of a railway supply system, with said motors in operative connection with said system and to traverse a trackless roadbed independently of said system with said motors in operative connection-with said battery 100. 'l` he motor-generator 103, which comprises the coils 31 and 36, etc., above described, may be conveniently carried in the vehicle-body 105 beneath the chau'lgfeurs seat 106 in operative connection with the controller 20, which is supported by the footboard 107, in Yiront oi said seat, and the battery 100 maybe disposed in the casing 10S, beneath said body 105. The pole 2, whereby the apparatus carried by the vehicle is connected with the overhead wire 3, is pivoted at 1.10 on the standard 1 1 1 which is mounted upon the rootI 112 ol2 said vehicle. Said pole 2 may be conveniently raised and lowered by corresponding vertical movements of the collar 115 on said standard 111, said., collar being operated by the `flexible connector 116, eX- tending to the vertical lever 117 at the iront ofthe vehicle, which lever is also operatively connected by the links 119 and 120, rocklever 121, &c., to raise and lowerl a pair ot ground-contact wheels 4, carried by the shaft 123, suspended from. the vehicle-'frame 124.

' In the position of the apparatus shownin Fig'. l the circuits which include the motorgenerator 103 and the battery 100 are open and inoperative, and the motors 25.are energized by direct connection with the railway supply system comprising the overhead wire 3 and subjacent track 5, said circuit including the pole 2, lead 6, switch-terminal 8, switch 17, switch-terminal 16, lead 19, controller 20, lead 19, switch-terminal 16, switch 17, switch-terminal 9, lead 10, rheostat-lever 11, rheostat 12, lead 14, and wheel 4 to the track 5. lt is to be understood that with the circuits of the vehicle thus arranged the motors 25 being in direct connection with the railway supply system may be energized in series relation with each other by proper manipulation oi' the controller 20. ,y

It it is desired to operate the motors 25 solely by energy derived from the bat 'ery 100, the switch 17 is retained in the dotted position indicated in Fig, l and the switch 26 is swungr toward the lett-hand side ofjliig. l. to the position indicated in said figure, inwhicli case all of the circuits above described are rendered open and inoperative eXceptthe circuit connecting' the battery 100 in s zig-s relation wit-h'the controller 20, said circuit including;` a lead 19, switch-terminal 1l6, switch 17 switch-terminal 87, lead 85, battery 100,

rlleostat-coils 91, rheostat-lever 92, Jrheostattori ein al 93, lead 95. and switch-terminal 96,

switch \17, switch-terminal 16, lead 1,9, andl controller 20. Vlith the circuits in the vehicle thus arranged the motors l25 may be operated in parallel relation with each other by suitable manipulation of the controller 20. lt being` desired tc retain the vehicle in operative connection with the railway supply system and to contemporaneously charge the storage battery 100, while operating the motors 25, the switch 27 may be retained in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and the switch 28 he swung` toward the right-ha id side of Fig. l, establishing circuits as follows:

Said switch 28 makes direct connection between the lead 27 of said pole v2 and the terminal 29 of the lead 30, with which said'rnotor field-coil 31 and generator field-coil 36 of the motor-generator are connected in parallel relation between the overhead. wire 3 and the subj acent track 5, said coil 31 being connected with the contact-wheel 4 through the lead 32 and said coil 36 beingI connected with said contact-wheel 4 through the lead 87, rheostat-coil 38, rhe'ostat-lever 58, rheostat-terminal 39, lead 40, and lead 75. Contemporaneously the secondary circuit is established from the pole 2, through the lead 27 switch' the bridge 79 establishes connection between the terminals 80 land 81 in the secon dary circuit, which includes the lead 82, brush 83,1110- IOO tor-generator-armature coils 44, brush 84,

lead 85, switch-terminal87, switch 17, switchterminal. 16, lead 19, controller 20, lead 19, switch-terminal 1 6 switch 17, switch-terminal 96, lead 95, rheostat-terminal 93, rheostatlever 92, rheostat- 91, resistance-coil 90, lead 89, switch-terminal 81, bridge 79, and switchterminal 80. Contemooraneously the battery is also included in the secondary circuit last described in parallel relation withv the controller 20, the circuit being established between the leads S5 and 95, throughv the rheostat-coils 91, lever 92, and terminal 93. W'ith the Acircuits of the vehicle arranged as last described the battery 100 and the controller 20 are connected' in parallr'l relation with each other in series relation with the motor-generator, and said meters 25 may be operated in series relation, as above described. while said battery is being charged.

I do not desire to limit myself to the preoise construction and arrangement herein set i 3o IIO forth, as various modifications may b'e made therein without departingfrom the essential features of my invention.

I claiml. In an automobile provided with wheels constructeu and arranged to traverse the tracks of a direct-current railway supply syssaid wheels; and, means arranged to operate said motors directly by connection with said battery and indirectly by connection with said railway supply system through said transformer, comprising a controller in parallel relation with'said battery in the secondary circuit of said transformer, substantially as set forth.. y

2. In-an'automobile provided with wheels constructed and arranged to traverse the tracks of a direct-current railway'supply sys- 1,.. tem, and to traverse a trackle'ss road-bed independently of said system; the combination with a storage'battery; of a direct-cur; -rent rotary transformer; a starting-switch comprising an automatically-variable rheostatin the supply-circuit-including the p rimary coil'of s aid transformer; a solenoid in a shunt to ground; a secondary-circuit closer in operative relation with said solenoid; a permanent iron resistance in the secondary circuit, between said circuit-closer and said battery; a governing device arranged to operate in delinite relation to the rotation of the armature bfsaidtransformer; a rheostat controlled by said ,governing device and inA the secondary circuit of Asaid transformer ;.a rheostat in the circuit betweensaid battery and saidycontroller; a shunt-circuit from the supply-circuit to ground, in operative relation with said controller; a rlieostat in said shunt-circuit; a plurality of electric motors respectivelyin operative relation with said wheels; and, means arranged'to operate said motors directly by connection with said batter and indirectly by connection With said ra' Way supply system through said transformer, comprising acontrol er in parallel relation with said battery inthe secondary circuit of said transformer, substantially as set forth. A

3. Ina vehiclefof the class described, the combination-with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directl.current` transformer comprising separate motoi and generator field-coils, and armature-coils respectively local to said field-coils a controller operatively connecting said-battery, motor and transformer; and, means ar-l ranged to o erate said motor directly by connection Witli said battery, and indirectly by connection with a railway supply system through said transformer, comprising means arranged to connect said generator field-coil directly with said system, substantially as set forth. y

1l. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer, comprising separate motorand generator held-coils; and armature-coils respectively local to said field-coils a controller operatively connecting said battery, motor and transformer; and means arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with said battery, and indirectly by connection with a railway supply system through said transformer, comprising means arranged to connect said motor field-coil directly withsaid system, substantially asset forth.,

5. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer comprising separate motor and generator held-coils, and armature-coils respectively local to said field-coils a controller operatively connecting said battery, motor and transformer; and, means arranged to operate said motor directly b v connection with said battery, and indirectly by connection with a railway supply system through said transformer, comprising means arranged to connect said motor and generator field-coils of the transformer directly with said system, in parallel relation, substantially as set forth.

6.. I n a vehicle of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer; and, means operatively connecting said battery, motor and transformer, 'arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with said battery and indirectly by connection with the railway supply system through said transformer,

Acomprising means arranged to connect afieldcoil of the transformer With said railway supv ply system, substantially' as set forth.

7. In a vehicle of the classdescribed, the combination with a storage battery; of a inotorarranged to propel the, vehicle; a directcurrent transformer; means operatively connecting said battery, motor and transformer, arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with said. battery'and indirectly by connection With the 'railway `supply system through said transformer, comprising means arranged to connect a field-coil of the transformer With said railway supply system; and, means arranged to automatically vary the resistance in. circuit with a transformer 'field-coil of said transformer, in accordance With the speed of rotation of the Vtransformerarmature, substantially asset forth.

8. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination With a storage battery; of a iotor arranged to propel the vehicle; a direct-l current transformer comprising separate motor and generator field-coils, and armaturecoils respectively local to said field-coils; a controller operatively connecting said battery, motor and transformer; and means arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with said battery and indirectly by connection with the railway supply system, through said transformer, comprising means arranged to automatically vary the resistance in circuit with said generator field-coil, in accordance with the speed of rotation of said armature, substantially as set forth.

10. In a vehicle of the class described, the Icombination with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer comprising separate motor and generator field-coils, and armaturecoils respectively local to saidfield-coils; a controller operatively connecting said battery motor and transformer; means arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with said battery and indirectlyby connection with the'railway supply system through said transformer,l comprising means arranged to maintain said motor field-coil of said transformer saturated; and means arranged to automatically vary the resistance in .circuit witht said generator field-coil, in accordance with the speed of rotation of its armature, supstantially as set forth.

y11. In--a vehicle' of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of a mo tor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer; and, means operatively connecting said battery, motor and tra-nsformer, arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with a railway supply system, indirectly by connection with said system through said transformer, and independently of said system by connection with said storage battery, substantially as set fOitli.

12. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of amotor arranged to propel the vehicle; 'a directcurrent transformer; and, means arranged to Aoperate said motor directly by connection with' said battery and indirectly by' connection with a railway supply system through said transformer', comprising means arranged to automatically vary the resistance in a circuit including an armature-coil of said transformer, `substantially as set forth.

13. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer; and, means arranged to operate said motor directly by connection 4with said battery and indirectly by connection with a railway supply systeinthrough said transformer, comprising means arranged toautomatically vary the resistance in a circuit including an armature-coil of said transformer, and to automatically close 'the secondarycircuit of said transformer, substantially as set forth.

14. In a-veliicle of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer; and, means arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with said battery and indirectly by connection witha railway supply system through said transformen; comprising means arranged to maintain the motor-field of said transformer saturated during the connection of the railway supply system with the vehicle, substantially asset forth.

115. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with a storage battery; of a motor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer; and, means arranged to operate saidmotor directly by connection with said battery and indirectly by connection with a railway supply system through said transformer, comprising means arranged to automatically vary theresistance in the generator field-circuit of said transformer in accordance with the speed of rotation of its armature, substantially as set forth.

16. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination rwith a-storage battery; of amotor arranged to propel the vehicle; a directcurrent transformer; comprising a motor armature-coil, a generator armature-coil, and field-coils respectively vlocal to' said' armature-coils; a controller operatively connecting said battery, motor and transformer; and, means arranged to operate said motor directly by connection with said battery and indirectly. by connection with the railway supply system through said transformer, comprising a starting-switch including means to gradually diminish the resistance in a circuit including an armature-coil of the transformer, automatically, and, means tov close the secondary circuit of said transformer, automatically, substantially as set forth.

17. In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with a storage-battery of a inotor arranged to propel the vehicle; means arranged to connect said motor directly with a railway supply system and with said storage battery; and' separate rheostats .independ- TOC ITO

dynamotor, comprising1r a controller in parallel relation With'said battery in the secl ondary circuit of said transformer, and, means arranged to malntaln the motor-field I of said transformer, saturated during the connection of 'the railway supply system' 5 with the vehicle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylzo Vania, this 21st day of November, 1905.

MATHIAS PFATISCHER. Witnesses:

ANNA F. GETZFREAD, l ARTHUR E. PAIGE. 

